Subject to the availability of appropriations provided for such purpose, the Administrator shall establish a cooperative research and development center described in paragraph (2) at each national security laboratory.

(2)

A cooperative research and development center described in this paragraph is a center to foster collaborative scientific research, technology development, and the appropriate transfer of research and technology to users in addition to the national security laboratories.

(3) In establishing a cooperative research and development center under this subsection, the Administrator—

firms, or a consortium of firms, that are eligible to participate in a partnership or other arrangement with a laboratory of the Department of Energy, as determined in accordance with applicable law and regulations; or

(B) firms, or a consortium of firms, described in subparagraph (A) in combination with one or more of the following:

2014—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–291 substituted “that research on and development of dual-use critical technology carried out through atomic energy defense activities” for “that atomic energy defense activities research on, and development of, any dual-use critical technology”.

“(i)(I) appears on the list of national critical technologies contained in a biennial report on national critical technologies submitted to Congress by the President pursuant to section 6683(d) of title 42; and

“(II) has not been expressly deleted from such list by such a report subsequently submitted to Congress by the President; or

“(ii)(I) appears on the list of critical technologies contained in an annual defense critical technologies plan submitted to Congress by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to section 2506 of title 10; and

“(II) has not been expressly deleted from such list by such a plan subsequently submitted to Congress by the Secretary.”

The Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Technology Transfer Coordinator appointed under section 1001(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16391(a)), may carry out a pilot program at a national security laboratory for the purpose of accelerating technology transfer from such laboratories to the marketplace with respect to technologies that directly advance the mission of the National Nuclear Security Administration.

“(b)Termination.—

The authority to carry out the pilot program under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is two years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 2, 2013].

“(c) Reports.—

“(1)In general.—

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the pilot program under subsection (a).

“(2)Elements.—The report under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

“(A)

An identification of opportunities for accelerating technology transfer from national security laboratories to the marketplace.

“(B)

If the Secretary chooses to carry out the pilot program under subsection (a), a description of the plan to carry out such program.

“(C)

If the Secretary chooses not to carry out the pilot program under subsection (a), a description of why the program will not be carried out.

“(d)Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) The term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means the following:

“(A)

The Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives.

“(B)

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives.

“(C)

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.